**NOTE**: As of May 2025, this website is no longer being updated. It will remain active for now, and clients can continue to contact me through the forms and online store, but the primary home of my business from now on is www.janusnamejourneys.com. I have made this change to make my work more accessible to clients seeking all kinds of names. My commitment to helping expectant parents has not changed, and I look forward to continuing to work with parents through my new portal. 

Welcome to Ipseity, the baby name consultant service of Hannah B. Emery, PhD.

Ipseity means “selfhood” or “identity.” Our names–especially our given names–are fundamental to our identities. Hannah believes that for most families, the search for the perfect baby name is tangled up in questions around identity. Trying to narrow down the long, LONG list of name options often brings up questions about gender, race, cultural background and family history; all of these elements can play major roles in deciding what kinds of names might be the best fit for your child.

Hannah’s name reports don’t tell parents what to do: they provide clarity about what families are looking for, based on input from the parents themselves, and offer some feedback and suggestions.

As a sociologist, Hannah has spent decades studying names and naming. As a parent to two little ones, she knows how agonizing it can feel trying to find “just the right name.” She is here to help.

Since launching Ipseity in 2017, Hannah has worked with dozens of families from around the US, as well as elsewhere in the English-speaking world. Some of her clients are trying to find a name that bridges different linguistic or religious backgrounds; some want to honor relatives or a piece of family history but need help finding something that feels like it matches their style. Some are adoptive families, or families seeking a name for a ‘rainbow baby’ after experiencing a stillbirth or pregnancy loss. Others are just trying to compromise between very different tastes.

Whatever their circumstances, families consistently say how insightful and personalized Hannah’s reports are, as well as how much fun they are to read. Sometimes families choose a name from Hannah’s recommended list; other times, her report is the final thing to convince them the perfect name was on their list the whole time.

Since 2020, Hannah has priced her work with a Pay What You Think It’s Worth model. Find more information about pricing and types of available consults here!